Glen Geddes bloodwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glen Geddes bloodwood |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Corymbia
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| Species: |
xanthope
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| Synonyms | |
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Eucalyptus xanthope A.R.Bean & Brooker |
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The Corymbia xanthope, commonly known as the Glen Geddes bloodwood, is a special type of tree. It grows only in a small area of Queensland, Australia. This tree is known for its thick, rough bark, which often has yellow bark showing underneath. It also has long, curved leaves, creamy white flowers, and fruit shaped like an urn.
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What Does the Glen Geddes Bloodwood Look Like?
The Glen Geddes bloodwood is a tree that usually grows up to 12 meters (about 39 feet) tall. It has a special woody swelling at its base called a lignotuber. This helps the tree regrow if it gets damaged, like from a bushfire.
Its bark is thick, rough, and hard, with a pattern that looks like a mosaic. You can often see bright yellow bark peeking out from underneath the rough outer layer.
- Young Leaves: When the plant is young, or when new shoots grow from the base (called coppice regrowth), the leaves are long and narrow. They are about 4.8 to 10 centimeters (about 2 to 4 inches) long and 0.7 to 2 centimeters (about 0.3 to 0.8 inches) wide. The underside of these leaves is paler.
- Adult Leaves: The leaves on a mature tree are arranged differently. They are shaped like a spear or are slightly curved. These adult leaves are much paler on their underside and measure about 9 to 20 centimeters (about 3.5 to 8 inches) long and 1 to 2.5 centimeters (about 0.4 to 1 inch) wide. They connect to the branch with a stalk called a petiole, which is about 0.8 to 2.2 centimeters (about 0.3 to 0.9 inches) long.
The flowers of the Glen Geddes bloodwood are creamy white. They grow in groups of seven on stalks called peduncles and pedicels. The flowers bloom between February and April. After the flowers, the tree produces woody fruits that are shaped like an urn. These fruits are about 1.4 to 2 centimeters (about 0.5 to 0.8 inches) long and 1 to 1.5 centimeters (about 0.4 to 0.6 inches) wide.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The Glen Geddes bloodwood was first officially described by scientists Anthony Bean and Ian Brooker in 1989. They gave it the name Eucalyptus xanthope. This description was published in a science journal called Austrobaileya. The specimens they studied were collected by Bean near a place called Glen Geddes siding in Queensland.
Later, in 1995, two other scientists, Ken Hill and Lawrie Johnson, changed the tree's name to Corymbia xanthope.
Where Does It Live?
The Glen Geddes bloodwood grows in woodland areas. It prefers sandy soils found on ridges or slopes. You can find this tree along the central coast of Queensland, just north of the city of Rockhampton. It often grows alongside another type of tree called Eucalyptus fibrosa.
Why Is It Special? (Conservation Status)
This unique tree is considered "vulnerable." This means it's at risk of becoming extinct if we don't protect it. Both the Australian Government, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and the Queensland Government, under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, have classified it this way.
The biggest threats to the Glen Geddes bloodwood are:
- Trees being cut down.
- Its natural home being disturbed by mining activities.
